What do massage therapists do?

Massage involves applying firm pressure and slow strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). It is used to treat chronic aches and pain in areas such as stiff neck and upper back, lower back pain, leg muscle tightness, sore shoulders and helps alleviate headaches. 

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What are the benefits associated with massage therapy? 

With massage therapy not only do you benefit with the release of muscular tension and pain but there are a number of associated benefits that your whole body benefits from. 

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• Increases blood flow, nutrients and oxygen to the muscles

• Increases range of motion and flexibility

• Reduced stress and anxiety 

• Shortens recovery time

• Helps eliminate by-products of exercise or strenuous activity (lactic acid)

• Reduces pain

• Better sleep

• Relaxation

• Headache relief

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What is the difference between a sports massage and deep tissue massage?

Deep tissue massage is often a full body massage, rather than focusing on a specific area of the body. 

Sports massage, on the other hand, is a targeted massage approach that focuses on specific areas of the body that are in need of healing or pain relief. 

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What happens to your body after a sports massage?

It is completely normal to experience some tenderness and discomfort, especially if your massage therapist has worked on an area that is already injured, sore or tight. Your body will undergo, to a degree, trauma during a sports massage, and you will likely you will feel sore for a few days. You may also feel cold, thirsty and tired as your body works to metabolise the waste products and toxins removed from the soft tissue. Drinking plenty of water, staying hydrated and taking a warm bath will help this process.

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Who is Angie Mendes?

Angie qualified as a massage therapist from HHI in 2012 after two years of studying. She specialises in Deep Tissue and Sports Massage Therapy, Relaxation and Pregnancy Massage. Angie works very closely with the team at Mendes Chiropractic - Dr. Jenny Mendes and Dr. Owen Swart - for an overall wellness experience.

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It is so easy to overlook, but recovery is an important part of everyday life. It doesn't matter if you're new to the gym, not moving your body at all or getting ready to run your next marathon. Any kind of exercise puts your body through wear and tear. You need to give your muscles the opportunity to properly repair. This is why many people opt for massage therapy. 

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